Archive for the 'Ducks' Tag Under 'Ducks' Category

DALLAS -- Here is the expected lineup that the Ducks (39-17-7) will start with against the Dallas Stars on Sunday night at American Airlines Center. Frederik Andersen is back and available but Coach Bruce Boudreau is staying with a winning hand in John Gibson (7-5-0, 2.63 GAA, .914 SV%) for now. Gibson, who made 20 saves Wednesday in a 4-2 win over the Kings, is making his ninth consecutive start and has allowed three or fewer goals over his last five outings. Chris Wagner filled in well against Los Angeles but was sent back to Norfolk (AHL) as Nate Thompson (lower body) is back after missing two games. Tomas Fleischmann, who was acquired from Florida on Sunday, is not expected to play after his scheduled Saturday flight to Dallas was canceled. Fleischmann did not arrive until this afternoon. With him aboard, the Ducks put Rene Bourque on waivers. Eric Brewer will be scratched for the third time in four games. Ryan Kesler stopped a nine-game pointless streak with his goal and assist Wednesday. Rickard Rakell's last goal came Jan. 30 against Chicago but the center hasn't gone more than two games without a point since Jan. 7. Emerson Etem, who has goals in two of three agmes, will play in his 100th contest.

ANAHEIM -- Here is the expected lineup that the Ducks (38-17-7) will start with against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday night at Honda Center. John Gibson (6-5-0, 2.69 GAA, .915 SV%) will make his eighth consecutive start, though Frederik Andersen will now back him up. Andersen became available after missing nearly three weeks of action because of a neck injury, which also allowed for veteran Jason LaBarbera to return to Norfolk (AHL). Chris Wagner will play his first game with the Ducks since Nov. 15, which ironically came against the Kings. Wagner was called up from Norfolk as a more physical, defensive center to fill in on the fourth line while Nate Thompson (lower body) misses a second consecutive game. Ben Lovejoy comes back into the lineup after being scratched Wednesady against Ottawa while Eric Brewer draws out. Jiri Sekac plays his second game with the Ducks after getting one shot on goal in 14:35 for his debut. Matt Beleskey (shoulder) is skating again but will likely be another week or 10 days away.

ANAHEIM -- The Ducks and Ilya Bryzgalov parted ways for good on Thursday as the club put him on unconditional waivers, with the veteran goaltender returning to his family on the east coast instead of reporting to the team's American Hockey League team in Norfolk, Va.

Bryzgalov initially accepted an assignment to the Admirals after clearing regular waivers on Monday but chose to head home after Ducks general manager Bob Murray was unable to work a deal, with no other NHL team showing much interest.

The chances of Bryzgalov remaining in the Ducks' plans this season and returning to the team were remote at best, even if he found his game again in Norfolk and became an insurance option again.

"At the beginning of the NHL season, I spent all of my time with my wife and my children,” Bryzgalov said in a statement released by the Ducks. “I drove my son and daughter to their practices and games and enjoyed life. I had no plans to return to the NHL this season until the Ducks reached out to my agent, Ritch Winter.

"I agreed to return because of my respect for the Ducks organization, the quality of the team they had assembled and my long relationship with Bob Murray and the team. Given the way things have worked out, I have decided to return home to be with my wife and children, who did not move with me to Anaheim.

ANAHEIM – Here is the expected lineup that the Ducks (38-16-7) will start with against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night at Honda Center as they try to extend their winning streak to four games. New acquisition Jiri Sekac skated with the team in the morning and can be in the lineup tonight if the club is able to get his immigration work completed. If so, Sekac would jump in on the second line and Andrew Cogliano would move to the third with Rickard Rakell and Emerson Etem. Rene Bourque would move to the fourth line and Tim Jackman would draw out of the lineup. John Gibson (6-4-0, 2.74 GAA, .912 SV%) is making his seventh straight start and figures to keep the net until Frederik Andersen (neck) is fully recovered. Andersen is starting to face shots in practice each day. Cogliano has four goals and an assist in his last five games while Francois Beauchemin has a three-game goal streak going. Hampus Lindholm needs just two more points to tie his point total from 2013-14 as a rookie.

ANAHEIM -- Here is the expected lineup that the Ducks (37-16-7) will start with against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night at Honda Center as they try to extend their modest two-game win streak. John Gibson (5-4-0, 2.74 GAA, .911 SV%) will make his sixth straight start after posting wins at Calgary and Edmonton on back-to-back nights over the weekend. Frederik Andersen (neck) continues to work his way back from injury but it isn't clear if he'll be ready for action this week so the Ducks recalled veteran Jason LaBarbera from Norfolk (AHL) after putting Ilya Bryzgalov on waivers Sunday. Clayton Stoner (lower body) returns to the lineup after missing Saturday's game against the Oilers. Emerson Etem gets another shot on the second line while Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry remain apart for a third straight game. Getzlaf and Francois Beauchemin each have goals in consecutive games. Beauchemin's six goals tie Hampus Lindholm for second among the team's defenseman behind the injured Sami Vatanen (leg), who remains sidelined long term with Matt Beleskey (shoulder).

EDMONTON, Alberta -- Here is the expected lineup that the Ducks (36-16-7) will start with against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night at Rexall Place. Coming off a 6-3 victory over Calgary on Friday, the Ducks' six goals are the most they've scored since Jan. 21 -- also against the Flames. There was no morning skate so it is unclear who'll the Ducks will turn to in net. Coach Bruce Boudreau wouldn't say late Friday if he'll come back with John Gibson (4-4-0, 2.95 GAA, .906 SV%) on a second straight night or give Ilya Bryzgalov (1-4-1, 4.19 GAA, .847 SV%) another crack at salvaging his poor start with the club. Bryzgalov could get the nod against the struggling Oilers, whom he played with for part of last season, if Boudreau decides he wants to give Gibson added rest for Monday's home game against Detroit. Andrew Cogliano, the NHL's current iron man, is expected to play in his 600th consecutive game. Cogliano, who started his career with Edmonton, has not missed a game in his eight-year career. Francois Beauchemin and Hampus Lindholm each had a plus-4 rating Friday, tying career highs for both. The last time both had a plus-4 in the same game was Oct. 13, 2013 against Ottawa. It's likely that Boudreau will stay with the same winning lineup, although Emerson Etem could sub back in for Rene Bourque. Bourque played only 9:31 and has just two points in the last 11 games he's played in.

CALGARY, Alberta -- Here is the expected lineup that the Ducks (35-16-7) will start with against the Calgary Flames on Friday night at Scotiabank Saddledome as they look to get out of their current 3-6-1 rut. John Gibson (3-4-0, 2.94 SV%, .907 SV%) will make his fourth straight start. Gibson stopped 28 of 32 shots Wednesday in a 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay. Coach Bruce Boudreau is making a noticeable change at the outset by splitting apart longtime linemates Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, which he did Thursday in practice. The two were last apart as healthy teammates during a Nov. 29 game in San Jose and both combined for three goals in a rally that ultimately fell short. Hampus Lindholm (ankle) practiced Thursday and skated Friday morning as it appears he'll try to play after sitting out against the Lightning. Frederik Andersen (head/neck) is not on the trip. Pat Maroon got his first goal in nine games with his seventh of the season on Wednesday. Eric Brewer and Emerson Etem are your healthy scratches. Matt Beleskey (shouldere) and Sami Vatanen (leg), of course, are out.

ANAHEIM -- Here is the likely lineup that the Ducks (35-15-7) will start with against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night at Honda Center as they attempt to break out of a 3-5-1 slump. John Gibson (3-3-0, 2.78 GAA, .912 SV%) will make his third consecutive start after winning in Carolina last week and losing at home to Washington on Sunday. Hampus Lindholm, who's got 25 points and averages 21:57 of ice time, is a question mark to play as it appears he may have aggravated an ankle injury that kept him out of their loss to Florida on their last road trip. If Lindholm is able to go, either Eric Brewer or Clayton Stoner will come out. With the long-term injuries to Matt Beleskey and Sami Vatanen, Emerson Etem and Josh Manson jump right into the fray after being called up from Norfolk (AHL). Tim Jackman will draw out of the lineup after playing in the last eight. Pat Maroon has gone scoreless in his last eight after a six-game point scoring streak. Rickard Rakell has three points in his last seven.

ANAHEIM -- Here is the potential lineup that the Ducks (35-14-7) will start with against the Washington Capitals on Sunday night at Honda Center. Coming off a 35-save effort to beat Carolina on Thursday, John Gibson (3-2-0, 2.36 GAA, .927 SV%) should get his second straight start in goal as Frederik Andersen remains on injured reserve because of neck soreness. The Ducks are just 3-4-1 in their last eight games overall. Ryan Getzlaf didn't practice Saturday but is expected to play. Getzlaf has been dealing with a lower-body injury that kept him out of two games on the recent road trip. Rene Bourque, Devante Smith-Pelly and Tim Jackman are largely playing in a three-man rotation for two forwards. Bourque was skating with Corey Perry on the top line in practice so it's possible he will get back into the lineup after sitting out against the Hurricanes. Corey Perry got his 300th career assist on Francois Beauchemin's goal against Carolina. Perry became the fourth Ducks player to reach that mark, joining Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne and Paul Kariya.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Here is the expected lineup that the Ducks (34-14-7) will start with against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night at PNC Arena as they try to stop a three-game slide. John Gibson (2-2-0, 2.66 GAA, .915 SV%) will get his first start in goal for Anaheim since Oct. 30 in St. Louis. Gibson, who was called up from Norfolk (AHL) on Tuesday, stopped 15 of 18 shots against Florida in relief of Ilya Bryzgalov as Frederik Andersen remains on injured reserve. Hampus Lindholm (ankle) and Jakob Silfverberg (flu) will return to the lineup after missing the 6-2 loss to the Panthers. Eric Brewer and Rene Bourque will be scratched. Brewer, in particular, has struggled mightily with a minus-5 in his last two games. Bourque has just three points in 11 games since his last goal on Dec. 27 at Arizona. Corey Perry had a five-game point streak snapped Tuesday. Sami Vatanen has a point in four of his last five games and hasn't gone more than two games without one since Dec. 31. William Karlsson was sent back to Norfolk. Karlsson didn't have a point in the one game he played against Washington.